Ice tray



Feb. 13,1945. c. R, CAIQNEY 2,369,532

ICE TRAY Filed Dec. 19, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l AT'TORNEY'S,

Feb. 13, 1945. I c, R C E 2,369,532

- ICETRAY Fil'ed D86. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE TRAY Clifiord B. Carney, Dearborn, Micln, assig-nor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 19, 1940, Serial No. 370,763 11 Claims. (Cl. 62-1085) This invention relates to ice trays and more particularly to a novel and improved grid structure adapted to be positioned within a pan memher to divide the space within the pan into a plurality of ice block compartments of convene lent size for domestic use. 1

An object of this invention is to provide an ice tray grid having a plurality of independently operable members which may be selectively actuated to release any desired number of ice blocks from th'grid and tray members.

A further object resides in the provision of an nal separator members in such a manner that manually operable means hingedly connected with the longitudinal separator members may be independently actuated to selectively move the transverse members angularly to release any de-. sired quantity ofice blocks.

A still further object is to provide a novel and 1 improved actuating member which may be hingedly connected to generally longitudinally ex-,

tending separator members to exert a force on' gener -11y transversely extending separator members to'rnove'the transverse members relative to the longitudinal members to release ice.

Another-object is to provide an -ice tray grid having a plurality of nested handle members associated with longitudinal separator members and so arranged that the handle members may be selectively actuated to move generally transverse separator members to release any desired quantity of ice blocks;

sun, another object 7 me a plurality of spaced longitudinally xtendlng separator members and a plurality or sets of angularly directed transversely extending sep-. arator members disposed in opposite angular directions relative to each other and wherein opposltely directed nested handle members are pro vided to selectively actuate the-transverse members oi each let. Yet a further object is. to provide a single manually operable member which may be emis to provide a grid hay-L ployed to actuate a plurality of separate handle members each associated with a separate transverse separator member hingedly mounted. on longitudinally extendmg separator means whereby allor any desired number of transverse separator members may be simultaneously actuated.

A still rurther object resides in the provision of novel actuating means hingedly carried by a plurality of generally longitudinally extending separator members to simultaneously or successlvely actuate transverse separator members associated with the longitudinal separator memv .bers.

' A further object is to provide a grid member having a plurality of oppositely disposed transverse separator members associated with longitudinally extending separator members wherein means associated with a pair of. oppositely disposed separator members are provided to actuate all of the transverse members of-each of oppositely disposed sets.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent Irom the rollowing detailed desaid scription considered in connection with the ac- I companying drawings, submitted for purposes or illustration omy, and not intended to denne the scope of the invention. reference being bad for that purpose to the subjomed claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters relax to siinilar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view .of an ice tray grid embodying the present. invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 isa perspective view showing the component parts or the grid member in separated relationship.

'Fig. 4 is a'plan view of the grid structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

.Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially [on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction oi! the arrows.

Fig. 6 a a longitudinal sectional view or a portion of the structure showing one step of the operation of assembling one of the handles to "ing position towards invention.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 10.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring now to the embodiment of the in vention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, it will be observed that an ice tray grid designated as a whole by the reference numeral it may be positioned in a pan member it to divide the space within the pan into a plurality of ice block compartments l5 of suitable size for domestic use.

tionstil and 22 formed adjacent their lower edges and are each provided with notched or cut-out portions 2 3 and 26 formed in or adjacent their upper edges. I

A .plurality of generally transversely extendin separator members 28 and 30 angularly inclined in. opposite directions may be mounted on the longitudinal separator members l6 and I8 and may be interlocked therewith to provide a unitary grid structure. Each of the transverse memhers is provided with a pair of spaced generally vertically extending slots 32 and 34 adapted to receive the longitudinal separator members l6 and H8.

The apertures or cut-out portions and 22 iormed in the longitudinal separator members are provided to receive locking tabs 38 carried by the transverse separator members to hold the longitudinal and transverse separator members in the assembled relationship. The apertures 20 and 22 are longitudinally spaced with reference to wall portions 23 and 25 of the notched portions 24 and 26 in such a manner that the transverse members 28 and 30 normally engage the wall portions 23 and 25 respectively tomaintain the transverse members in an ice forming position inclined at an angle to the vertical as more clear-.

ly disclosed in Fig. 2. The transverse members 28 and 30 are free to move angularly in the slots 24 and 26 toward wall portions 21 and 29, thereby moving angularly from the inactive or ice formthe vertical position to release ice.

, Means preferably carried by the longitudinal separator members I and I. may be provided to engage and selectively actuate the transverse separator members 28 and '20 to move them angularly to sheet the release of ice.

I One desirable term of means for actuating the transverseseparator members" comprises generally longitudinally extending aligned levers II and I! having nested handle members 4| and 4|.

embodying still another modified form of the These levers 38 and 39v are provided with generally tranversely extending portions having spaced bearing surfaces 42 and 43 adapted to pro- -ject through apertures 44 and 45 respectively formed in the longitudinal separator members iii and I6 respectively.

A camming or actuating member 45 is interposed between the bearing surfaces 52 and 680i the portion of the levers 38 and 39 between the longitudinal separator members it and it. The camming member 46 is in substantial alignment with the walls 23 of the notches 24 against which the transverse separator members 28 'rest when in the normal ice freezing position. Actuation of either of the handle members it or ii results in the exertion by the camming member (iii of a force on the back of the associated transverse separator member 28. The transverse separator members are thus moved angularly in. the slots 2. 1 from the walls 23 towards. the walls 2? to release ice when the handle members are actuated.

In order to facilitate assembly of the grid structure the apertures 44 in the longitudinal separator member are formed with a forwardly directed slot 52 of sumcient width to permit the bearing surface 420i the lever 38 or iliito enter the aperture 46 as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. In assembling the handles 38 and 39 to the grid structure, the bearing surface M3 is projected through the aperture 45 of the longitudinal separator member l6 and the bearing surface 42 is moved through the slot 52 into the aperture 46 of the longitudinal separator i8. The upper edge portion 54 of the longitudinal separator member 18 is then bent downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 7 whereupon the metal defining the aperture 46 engages the bearing surface 42 as illustrated to lock the handles in assembled relation I with the longitudinal separator members it and The transverse separator members at are members 80 and 82 are provided with aligned or nested -handles 64 and 86 positioned to extend longitudinally of the grid adjacent the longitudinal separator member IS,

The levers GI! and 62 may be operably connected to the longitudinal members and actuate the transverse members in the same manner as the levers 38 and 29 actuate the transverse separator members 28. 1

It will be noted that the longitudinal separator members It and I8 are symmetrical. only one forming die is required to make the longitudinal separator-members because a pair of members may be positioned in opposite directions, the

' apertures 44 of the longitudinal separator mem- These nested lever and handle members for actutransverse separator members 22 are positioned to extend longitudinally of thes'rid adjacent the longitudinal separator member ll.

ber l8 receiving the levers I8 and 2! to actuate the transverse separator members 28,. and the oppositely directed apertures. of the member 'receiying the levers ill and "to actuate the transverse separator members ll.

When it is desired to release ice blocks from this grid and tray structure, anyone of the hanascacsa 3 tive to the longitudinal separator members to release ice blocks from the grid and tray structure. If only a small quantity of ice blocks is required, the handles 40 or 64 may be actuatedto move its associated transverse separator member 28 or 3|! nearest the end of the pan to release three ice blocks.

' If six ice blocks are desired, the handle members l and 4| may be successively actuated or the handle members 48 and ill may be actuated to release the ice blocks associated with a pair of transverse members 28 -or 30. If it is desired to remove all of the ice blocks from the grid and tray, the handles may be moved simultaneously or successively to actuate all of the transverse grid members 28 and an to release the ice and the grid structure |2 may be removed from the pan H thereby effecting the release of the ice blocks between the inner transverse members 28 and 80.

Attention is called to the fact that it is immaterial which handles are actuated first because if any handle is actuated ice will be released. If either of the handles 4| or B6 is actuated first to move its associated transverse member 28 or 30 angularly, force will be exerted through the ice blocks between the transverse separator members 28 and 30 to actuate the transverse'separator members adjacent the'ends of the pan, thereby releasing ice. 1

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 is similar in many respects to that H- lustrated in Figs. 1 to 7. Corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of I00. If it is desired to eliminate the overlapping or nesting of the handles depicted in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, relatively short handle members H0, Ill, Hi4 "and IE6 may be provided to actuate relatively short levers I38, I38, I60 and I62 to move the transverse separator members 28 and 30 angularly to eifect the release of ice.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, it will be observed that the grid structure is generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7. Corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of 200.

In this embodiment of the invention it will be observed that the transverse separator members adjacent the ends of the pan are not provided with actuating members, and that a single actuating member is'provided to move a plurality of the transverse members which are disposed in one angular direction. In the operation of this device, the handle member 2 provided to actuate one of the transverse members 228 may be employed to exert a force to move the forward transverse member 228 by a force directed through the ice blocks interposed between the transverse members 228. In the oper-.

ation of this embodiment of the invention it is only necessary to actuate one member to release sixlce blocks at a time because force is transmitted through the intermediate ice blocks to actuate the transverse members adjacent the ends of the pan.

Figs. 10 and 11' illustrate an embodiment of the levers to which cache! the handle members associated with each transverse member is connected. By merely elevating the handle member 388 the handle. members associated with all of the transverse separator members may besimultaneously actuated to releaseall oi the ice within the pan H. It will be understood that this actuating mechanism may be employed in a grid structure having a single longitudinal separator member rather than spaced longitudinally extending separator members. In the practical application of this type of actuating mechanism to a grid having a single longitudinal separator member, the actuating handles may be connected to occupy inoperative positions adjacent the longitudinal separator member but on opposite sides thereof.

I claim:

1. In'an ice tray grid, a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending. separator members, a

plurality of generally transversely extending separator members interlocked with the longitudinal separator members and movable thereon through arcs to efl'ect the'release of ice, and separate manually operable means carried by the longitudinal separa'tonmembers to engagethe transverse separator members to selectively actuate each transverse member to release ice.

2. In an ice tray, a pan member, and a-grid member to divide the space within the pan into "a plurality of ice block compartments ofconvenient size for domestic use, said grid comprising a plurality of generally longitudinally extending separator members, a plurality of generally transversely extending separator members mounted on the longitudinal separator members and movable from an angular position toward the vertical to release ice, and separate means hingedly mounted on the longitudinal separator members to engage each transverse separator member to move each transverse member angularly to release ice.

3. A grid member adapted to be positioned in a pan'to divide the space within the pan into a plurality of ice block compartments of convenient size for domestic use comprising a pair of generally longitudinally extending substantially vertically disposed separator members, a plurality of generally transversely disposed normally angularly inclined separator members mounted on the longitudinal separator members and movable thereon from a normal ice forming position toward the vertical to release ice, separate actuating means carried by the longitudinally extending separator members to engage each transverse separator member to move it angularly to release ice, and separate manually operable means .to

move each of saidactuating means.

the invention wherein all of the separate lever a tuating cam members 284 positioned to engage 4. In an ice tray grid, a pair of generally longitudinally extending separator members, a plurality of generally transversely extending separator .members, each'of said transverse separator members being movable from an angularly inclined position toward the vertical position torelease ice, the transverse members adjacent one end of the grid being inclined angularly in the opposite direction to the transverse members adjacent the other end of the grid, actuating means pivotallymounted in the longitudinally extending separator members to engage each transverse separator member to move each of said members angularly to release ice, and nested handle members operabl connected to said actuating means.

5 An ice cube arming device including a pan on the. longitudinal separators and movable from an angularly inclined position towards the ver-- tical to release ice, the transverseseparator members at opposite ends of the grid being inclined angularly in opposite directions, and

manually --.operable means hingedly mounted in.

the longitudinal separator members adjacent each transverse separator member whereby each transverse member may be independently actuated to release ice.

6. A grid member comprising a generally longitudinally extending separator member, a plurality of generally transversely extending sepaseparatormember in such a manner that the transverse members may move from an angularly inclined position toward the vertical to release ice, and manually operable means pivotally connected to the longitudinal separator member adjacent each transverse member and arranged to directly engage and tilt forward said transverse members, whereby each transverse'member may be actuated to release ice.

' 7. In an ice tray grid, a plurality oi spaced longitudinally extending separator members, a plurality 01' generally transversely extending separator members, each transverse separator member being interlocked with the longitudinal sepaactuating means pivotally mounted in the longi- .ient size for domestic use comprising a pair aseaesa nil generally longitudinally extending substantially vertically disposed separator members, a plurality of generally transversely disposed normally angularly inclined separator members mounted on the longitudinal separator members and movable thereon from a normal ice forming position toward the vertical to release ice, actuating means pivotally mounted on the longitudinally entend= ing separator members adjacent each transverse separator member to move each transverse separator member angularly to release ice, and mane ually operable means including nestedoppositely directed handle members associated with each longitudinal grid member controlling said actuat- .1 ing means.

10. In an ice tray grid, a pair generally longitudinally extending separator members a rator members interlocked with the longitudinal inclined position toward the vertical position to release ice, some of said transverse separator members being angularly inclined in, opposite di rections to other of said transverse members,

tudinally extending separator members to engage each transverse separator memberto move each rater members and movable thereon through an are to eiiect the releases! ice, and a plurality of manually operable means each pivotally mountedjon the longitudinal separator members and operably connected to each transverse separator member to engage each of said transverse size ior domestic use, said grid comprising a long'itudinally extending separator member, a plu-. rality of generally transversely extending separator members mounted on the longitudinal sepaof said members angularly to release ice, nested handle members operably connected to said actuating' means, a single handle member pivotally mounted in the longitudinal separator member's, and motion transmitting means carried by'saicl single handle member and positioned to engage the nested handle members whereby movement of said single member actuates all of the trans verse separator members to release ice.

11. An ice cube forming device including a pan member and a grid member adapted to divide the space within the pan into a plurality oi. ice bloc]: cells, said grid member comprising a plurality of longitudinal separator members, a plurality oi? transverse separator members hingedly mounted rater member and movable from an angular position toward the vertical to release ice, and

s hingely mounted on the longituspaced fni r member. adjacent each transverse rator to selectively move them angularly to? (rise ice.

9. A" #member adapted to be positioned in a pan divide the space within the pan into a murals; tifice block comp rtments oiconvengage each of said transverse sepaon the longitudinal separators and movable from angularly inclined positions towards the, vertical to release ice, the transverse separator members at opposite ends of the grid being inclined angnlarlyin opposite directions, actuating means hingedlfmounted in the longitudinal separator members adjacent each transverse separator member whereby each transverse member may be independently actuated to release ice; and app'ositely. directed handle members carried by the actuating means and extending longitudinally oi the grid adjacent the longitudinally extending separator members.

- CLIFFORD R. CARNEY. 

